CCO launches new crane operator evaluator program

Launching January 2026, CCO’s Crane Operator Evaluator program gives a clear pathway for employers to ensure the evaluation of crane operators is performed by a certified individual. This new program is the first of its kind and brings structure, consistency and third-party rigor to the part of OSHA’s “train-certify-evaluate” framework that has historically varied from site to site.

The program sets clear criteria for evaluator qualification and the documentation that supports it, provides a repeatable method that scales across projects and crane types, and standardizes records so scope, criteria, outcomes and authorization limits are captured consistently.

Why now?

Since OSHA’s Crane & Derricks in Construction rule took effect, operator qualification has been a three-step process: training, certification and evaluation. OSHA requires that a crane operator evaluator is qualified. However, OSHA did not provide any guidance as to how an individual becomes qualified. Certification is indispensable, but OSHA is explicit that a certification alone does not make someone qualified to run a specific crane, in a specific configuration, on a specific job. It is the employer’s responsibility to ensure evaluations are performed with the knowledge, training and experience to assess an operator on the actual equipment and task. In practice, that has created ambiguity since it has been up to the employer to determine the parameters of an evaluation and can often create bias. CCO’s new Crane Operator Evaluator Program provides an industry-backed, structured pathway with clear answers.

Training framework

The program delivers a structured pathway for professionals seeking to become qualified evaluators in the crane industry. Participants can choose from three specialization tracks: Mobile Crane Operator Evaluator, Tower Crane Operator Evaluator or Articulating Operator Evaluator. They develop defined competencies that emphasize judging practical skills and risk recognition specific to the crane, its configuration and the task at hand. Through standardized methods and documentation, the program ensures consistent planning, performance and recordkeeping, resulting in more reliable and defensible outcomes. It clarifies the role of an evaluator, whether the participant is a safety manager, an experienced craft professional or a third-party agent, by clearly outlining what it means to be “qualified to evaluate.”

As evaluator task force chair John Manes notes, evaluating operators isn’t “just throwing the keys to them.” It requires defined competencies and a deliberate process to ensure the right person is in the seat when work begins. “The certification is going to help other contractors, and other companies with crane operations be more consistent in how they authorize their operators and how evaluators evaluate their capabilities,” he said.

A gold standard

This certification serves employers and site owners who must formally designate qualified evaluators to meet OSHA obligations. This program is also appropriate for seasoned professionals who regularly assess operator performance, as well as for third-party providers acting as employer agents, since it establishes a recognized benchmark that clarifies scope, expectations and accountability.

Evaluators will be examined through rigorous testing that encompasses job-relevant competencies, including task-focused planning, structured operator interviews, site and condition verification, live performance observation, risk recognition and stop-work culture, clear documentation, evaluator ethics and impartiality, and OSHA rule clarity.

CCO is recognized for being the gold standard of certification in the construction industry. This new program extends that leadership to the critical, on-the-job step after certification for evaluating personnel. This dedication to operational excellence improves safety, documentation and confidence across contractors, owners, insurers and operators. “We only get one opportunity to get it right,” Manes said.

Getting started

The program sets clear criteria for evaluator qualification and the documentation that supports it, provides a repeatable method that scales across projects and crane types, and standardizes records so scope, criteria, outcomes and authorization limits are captured consistently. It also improves alignment on what “qualified to operate this crane for this task” means in practice, while supporting but not replacing each employer’s existing authorization process.

From an employer’s perspective, getting started typically begins with selecting prospective evaluators, such as safety managers, lifting and rigging experts, or trusted third parties and starting the application process through CCO. Organizations then align internal policies and form to CCO’s standardized approach and communicate expectations for crews and subcontractors.

The candidate handbook will be publicly posted in October and covers the core competencies candidates are expected to master. There is no practical exam required for this certification. Candidates are expected to recertify every five years after passing the written exams.